Wolves to face Spurs in Mexico City next season

MINNEAPOLIS -- The NBA continues to include the Minnesota Timberwolves in asserting its global footprint.
The Minneapolis franchise announced Monday morning it will travel to Mexico City for a Dec. 4 clash with the San Antonio Spurs, marking the Timberwolves' first regular-season venture outside the United States since playing two 1999 season-opening contests in Japan. Minnesota also plans to host Russian professional team CSKA Moscow and travel to Montreal, Quebec for preseason exhibitions in October.
The Mexico tilt's part of the league's 12-team, 10-game NBA Global Games slate that features matchups in six different countries and territories.
With six players on the current roster hailing from other countries -- second only to San Antonio -- playing internationally makes perfect sense for Minnesota, Timberwolves president Chris Wright said in a release.
"With the huge international presence on our current roster and our increasing global popularity, this is a natural fit for us," Wright said. "The NBA has done a phenomenal job in growing our game globally, and we're excited to be a part of history as the NBA continues to expand its brand internationally."
It will be Minnesota's first game in Mexico City soil, while the nearby Spurs have played four preseason contests there.

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